BuildingPermitCost The short answer
The permit fee is the charge for the permit itself and, in most schedules, the inspections that follow. The plan review fee is a separate charge for checking your drawings against the building code before the permit is issued. 158 of 262 places (60%) list a separate plan review fee for building permits, and where it is a share of the permit fee the median is 65%.
What each fee pays for
- Plan review: a plans examiner checks the drawings for code compliance. It applies when the project needs plans, which is usually the case for additions, new homes and structural remodels.
- Permit fee: issuing the permit and inspecting the work as it is built. It is usually the number in the main fee table.
Re-review of revised plans, and reviews by other departments such as fire or planning, are often charged separately again. Each city page lists what its schedule says.
How plan review is priced
- A percentage of the permit fee: 84 places, for example Avondale, AZ and Chandler, AZ.
- Its own fee table: 36 places, for example Bellflower, CA and Chino Hills, CA.
- A flat fee: 21 places, for example Johnson County, KS and Lexington, KY.
- A rate per $1,000 of project value: 7 places, for example Baldwin County, AL and Anchorage, AK.
- A rate per square foot: 6 places, for example Scottsdale, AZ and Allen, TX.
- A percentage that changes with project value: 4 places, for example Phoenix, AZ and Denver, CO.
Among places that charge a fixed percentage of the permit fee, the most common rates are 65% (39 places), 50% (10 places), 20% (4 places) and 25% (4 places). 65% matches the plan review rule in the Uniform Building Code, which many local schedules still follow.
How much of the total it is
For the same $75,000 addition, plan review is part of the bill in 142 places. In the middle place it is $143.85 of a $418.65 total (34%), in Prince William County, VA. Where it is the largest share: Edmond, OK (79%), King County, WA (74%), San Francisco, CA (71%).
Because a percentage-based review fee grows with the permit fee, anything that raises the permit fee, such as a higher valuation, raises plan review too.
Places with no separate review fee
92 places (35%) list no separate plan review fee for building permits: review is either included in the permit fee or not charged. For 12 more, the schedule does not say, so our totals leave plan review out and the page notes the gap. Try any place in the calculator to see its plan review line, or compare places side by side.
Figures computed November 5, 2026 from the official fee schedules on this site. Fees are estimates based on the official schedules; confirm with the permit office before applying.